July 2018 Fraser Valley & Greater Vancouver Real Estate Statistics

Inventory builds as summer slowdown hits

SURREY, BC – Overall housing supply continued to grow in July as sales dropped to their lowest point this year since January.

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board processed 1,290 sales of all property types on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in July, a decrease of 33.4 per cent compared to the 1,937 sales in July of last year, and a 11.2 per cent decrease compared to the 1,452 sales in June 2018.

Of the 1,290 sales processed last month 346 were townhouses and 337 were apartments, together representing 53 per cent of all transactions in July.

Active inventory for the Fraser Valley in July finished at 7,399 listings, increasing 3.6 per cent month-over-month and 23.9 per cent year-over-year.

“Despite a much healthier level of inventory, demand continues to be influenced by pricing and market barriers such as the mortgage stress test and rising interest rates,” remarked Board President John Barbisan. “On top of that, summer is busy for people and usually a slow season for real estate.”

2,921 new listings were received by the Board in July, a 7 per cent decrease from June 2018’s 3,140 new listings, and a 11.5 per cent decrease compared to July 2017’s intake.

“A slower market like this one is an excellent opportunity for buyers to explore their options and enjoy a more relaxed purchasing environment,” continued Barbisan. “If you’re looking, talk to your REALTOR® who can help you get a full view on everything available that fits your needs.”

For the Fraser Valley region, the average number of days to sell an apartment in July was 21, and 24 for townhomes. Single family detached homes remained on the market for an average of 31 days before selling.

HPI® Benchmark Price Activity

• Single Family Detached: At $1,017,400, the Benchmark price for a single family detached home in the Fraser Valley decreased 0.1 per cent compared to June 2018 and increased 5.3 per cent compared to July 2017.

• Townhomes: At $557,500, the Benchmark price for a townhome in the Fraser Valley in the Fraser Valley decreased 0.1 per cent compared to June 2018 and increased 14.7 per cent compared to July 2017.

• Apartments: At $450,400, the Benchmark price for apartments/condos in the Fraser Valley decreased 0.7 per cent compared to June 2018 and increased 32 per cent compared to July 2017.

Greater Vancouver Real Estate Statistics

July’s residential housing sales in Metro Vancouver* reached their lowest levels for that month since the year 2000.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in the region totalled 2,070 in July 2018, a 30.1 per cent decrease from the 2,960 sales recorded in July 2017, and a decrease of 14.6 per cent compared to June 2018 when 2,425 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 29.3 per cent below the 10-year July sales average.

“With fewer buyers active in today’s market, we’re seeing less upward pressure on home prices across the region,” Phil Moore, REBGV president said. “This is most pronounced in the detached home market, but demand in the townhome and apartment markets is also relenting from the more frenetic pace experienced over the last few years.”

There were 4,770 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in July 2018. This represents a 9.2 per cent decrease compared to the 5,256 homes listed in July 2017 and a 9.6 per cent decrease compared to June 2018 when 5,279 homes were listed.

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 12,137, a 32 per cent increase compared to July 2017 (9,194) and a 1.6 per cent increase compared to June 2018 (11,947).

“Summer is traditionally a quieter time of year in real estate. This is particularly true this year,” Moore said. “With increased mortgage rates and stricter lending requirements, buyers and sellers are opting to take a wait-and-see approach for the time being.”

For all property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for July 2018 is 17.1 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 9.9 per cent for detached homes, 20.2 per cent for townhomes, and 27.3 per cent for condominiums.

Generally, analysts say that downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below the 12 per cent mark for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months.

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,087,500. This represents a 6.7 per cent increase over July 2017 and a 0.6 per cent decrease compared to June 2018.

Sales of detached properties in July 2018 reached 637, a decrease of 32.9 per cent from the 949 detached sales recorded in July 2017. The benchmark price for detached properties is $1,588,400. This represents a 1.5 per cent decrease from July 2017 and a 0.6 per cent decrease compared to June 2018.

Sales of apartment properties reached 1,079 in July 2018, a decrease of 26.5 per cent compared to the 1,468 sales in July 2017. The benchmark price of an apartment property is $700,500. This represents a 13.6 per cent increase from July 2017 and a 0.5 per cent decrease compared to June 2018.

Attached property sales in July 2018 totalled 354, a decrease of 34.8 per cent compared to the 543 sales in July 2017. The benchmark price of an attached unit is $856,000. This represents a 12.1 per cent increase from July 2017 and a 0.4 per cent decrease compared to June 2018.

NOTE: This representation is based in whole
or in part on data generated by the Chilliwack & District Real Estate Board, Fraser Valley Real
Estate Board or Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver which assumes no responsibility for its
accuracy